The horse racing broadcaster wishes the new team well, but departs feeling disgruntled at the way he feels he has been treated

'Devastated': John McCririck is unhappy at the way his Channel 4 career ended

John McCririck yesterday charged Channel 4 bosses with “ageism” after his axing from the broadcaster’s racing coverage.

McCririck, along with colleagues Mike Cattermole, Alastair Down, John Francome and Derek Thompson, was not among the new-look team of 13, unveiled on Thursday, that will show all terrestrial racing from January 1.

And the 72-year-old, a television betting pundit for 31 years with ITV and then Channel 4 – but known to the wider public through his appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Coach trip – put his exclusion down to age.

“Both Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt and head of production Carl Hicks – both former BBC executives – have gone down the path of ageism,” he fumed.

“I’ve been very lucky – it has been a dream job to broadcast from the betting jungles – and naturally I am devastated.

Speaking from America, McCririck, added: “I shall miss the camaraderie and I wish the new team the best of luck.

“According to Channel 4, I’m being sacked after audience research, but as far as I can see this is down to one thing – ageism.”